Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

Top Morgan Stanley Advisor Fined and Suspended

Posted on July 5th, 2024 at 8:55 AM
Top Morgan Stanley Advisor Fined and Suspended

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

A prominent Morgan Stanley advisor has accepted a 45-day suspension and a $10,000 fine for unauthorized money transfers and using personal communication channels for business-related texts, according to a FINRA settlement letter known as an Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”).

AdvisorHub reports that Gregg W. Gravenstine, a 36-year industry veteran, transferred $24,109 from a customer's account to an account owned by the customer's father without proper authorization. Between February and November 2019, Gravenstine made ten such transfers, or “cash journals”, at the request of the customer's father, a longtime friend and client, despite lacking approval from the son. According to AdvisorHub, the son filed an arbitration complaint to dispute those transfers, and the father repaid the transferred amounts.

Additionally, from August 2020 to August 2021, Gravenstine sent around 700 business-related text messages from his personal cell phone to ten customers. This action violated Morgan Stanley’s policy against using unapproved communication channels and caused the firm to breach FINRA’s recordkeeping rules, as the messages were not recorded. Gravenstine’s actions also violated its catch-all Rule 2010, which requires advisors to adhere to “high standards of commercial honor.”

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

As a financial advisor with over 20 years of experience, I feel fortunate to call Jim my attorney and friend. He is a fantastic lawyer and trusted advisor. He is skilled in the matters necessary to do the job well. He uses his thoughtful approach and calm demeanor to achieve a positive outcome for the client. If you want to feel confident that nothing will be missed and that you will be represented in a highly professional manner, call Jim Eccleston.

Bill C. and Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1780588152 Law
June 4, 2026
Former Wells Advisor Alleges Age Discrimination

A former Wells Fargo senior private client financial advisor in Wisconsin has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the firm terminated him because of his age rather than an alleged workplace profanity incident.

1780507151 Law
June 3, 2026
Starwood REIT Suspends Most Redemptions Amid Liquidity Pressure

Starwood Real Estate Income Trust (SREIT) has announced a temporary suspension of its share repurchase program for most investors.

1780415363 Law
June 2, 2026
SEC Charges California Trader in Alleged $43 Million Ponzi-Like Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a civil action against a California day trader accused of operating a $43 million Ponzi-like scheme that allegedly defrauded more than 400 investors.